Put an electronic distributor on there and throw the capacitor away.

By Darrell--Arizona-- (68.109.151.121) on Saturday, January 22, 2005 - 08:47 am:

Oh yeah...Sorry wrong one.

By Chaffneue (Chaffneue) (66.183.190.188) on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 12:55 pm:

this capacitor is on the positive site of the coil, so it's likely just a back EMF reducing component. I have a brand new condensor for the negative (points) side. I haven't seen many cars that use two caps on the ignition system, but perhaps kurt's right.. the radios that were installed in hondas may have been particularly sensitive to interference from the electrical system. I guess it probably won't affect the car's operation at all, I'll pick one up at a swap meet one day :D

-Richard

By Darrell--Arizona-- (68.109.151.121) on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 12:06 pm:

The condensor is also known as a capacitor (in the electronics world). For some reason they changed the name for car purposes. If you know the value of the capacitor, you can buy it at most electronic stores. Make sure the specs are in the same ball park. It won't be a custom fit, but I think it'll work. One of us might have an extra too!

The condensor soaks up excess electrical energy in an ignition system that has points. This prevents that extra energy from jumping across the points when they first open and close. (I got that off the web)

In short----it reduces electrical spikes.

So it appears that its used to prevent something bad. You might get by without it.

By Kurt (205.250.75.226) on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 12:00 pm:

I thoght that was just for the radio...but whatever you DON'T take my word for it

By Chaffneue (Chaffneue) (66.183.190.188) on Friday, January 21, 2005 - 11:39 am:

The condensor on the positive side of the ignition coil? no one in town stocks it, so I'd just like to know how important it is to the operation of the car rather than go on a wild goose chase.. I tested it, and alas it's internally shorted :P Probably went when my DC level skyrocketed the other day when the regulator failed.

-Richard